In Baltimore County Loch Raven teacher is state nominee...

CITY/COUNTY DIGEST

TOWSON -- Sara Jeanne Sayles, a mathematics teacher at Loch Raven High School, is the Maryland nominee for the National Education Association Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.

Sayles, last year's Baltimore County public schools Teacher of the Year, was chosen for the state honor by the Maryland State Teachers Association, and was recognized at the group's banquet Friday in Ocean City.

Sayles will represent Maryland at the seventh annual Salute to Excellence Gala in Washington on Dec. 6.

Former executive to speak on media's effect on politics

TOWSON -- Ted Venetoulis, a former Baltimore County executive and political consultant, will discuss the news media's effect on politics and the responsibilities of journalists in a lecture Monday.

Venetoulis will speak at 6 p.m. at Sheppard Pratt Conference Center, 601 N. Charles St. His talk is sponsored by the Baltimore County League of Women Voters.

Photographs may be black and white or color, and should measure 8 inches by 10 inches or larger and show scenes or people from the local community. The deadline for entries is Nov. 5. Judging will take place Nov. 14. The grand prize is a $100 gift certificate.

Information: 410-887-5097.

In Baltimore City

Hampden man, 24, charged with arson and fraud

A 24-year-old Hampden man has been arrested in connection with a series of arson incidents in the community, police reported yesterday.

The suspect, David Wayne Hines of the 1300 block of Union Ave., was arrested Friday by Northern District officers and has been charged in warrants with three counts of second-degree arson, three counts of malicious burning and insurance fraud in fires that occurred Aug. 23 and 24 and Sept. 20 in the Hampden area.

Police said the fires that destroyed or damaged three U-Haul trucks, a Yellow Transportation cab and Hines' 2001 Ford Ranger, and that overall damage was estimated at $84,000. Hines was released Sunday from Central Booking and Intake Center on $150,000 bail, a jail officer said.

Halloween program set in organ concert series

A Halloween program will be presented at noon tomorrow in the inaugural concert of the free "Lunch Under the Pipes" recital series, sponsored by the University of Maryland School of Law, at Westminster Hall at Fayette and Greene streets.

Concerts will feature the 119-year-old Johnson pipe organ in the university building that was formerly Westminster Presbyterian Church. The opening program, "Ode to Halloween," will include a tour of the church cemetery catacombs and snacks.

Tables will be provided for those who bring lunch. Information: 410-706-2072.